Psychological Assessment

Dr. Secor is a licensed health service psychologist and the program director for both the Master of Arts in Applied Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology programs at SNU. Dr. Secor obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in Counseling Psychology and completed his predoctoral internship in Clinical Psychology at the VA Medical Center/OU Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Secor was previously the Director of Clinical Training for the SNU Graduate Programs in Counseling Psychology and has been an instructor in the program since 2012. He currently teaches Neuropsychopharmacology, Theories and Techniques of Counseling I, Research Methods, Lifespan Development, Survey of Psychological and Cognitive Assessment, Practicum II, and Internship II. He became the co-director of Renew Counseling Center in 2021 helping to build Renew into a large training clinic that currently consists of nearly 70 clinicians. He oversees the financial picture for Renew and the overarching vision for the clinic as a part of his current duties.

Assessment is Dr. Secor’s primary clinical activity. He completed rotations in adult and child neuropsychology while on his predoctoral internship and has conducted both neuropsychological and psychological assessment during his postdoctoral training and in practice as a psychologist. Dr. Secor uses a wide variety of assessment data to form a comprehensive picture of not only what diagnoses exist, but also how the individual functions in their day-to-day. He routinely conducts personality assessments, along with evaluating neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD and Autism) and neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Secor has been trained in the Rorschach Performance Assessment System and enjoys integrating the Rorschach into his clinical assessments.
 

Dr. Secor shared the following:
“Psychological assessment is my favorite clinical activity. I love integrating cognitive and psychological data into rich reports that help clients understand why they do what they do and how to flourish moving forward. In a day and age where more-and-more psychological reports are being automated, I greatly value spending time on my reports to really understand the clinical picture for my patients. I actively research the factors that impact psychological functioning, including an integrative approach to how the body and mind work together. I am particularly interested in the role of chronic inflammation on psychological disorders and how we can start to understand psychological disorders from a more holistic perspective. I am trained in trauma, ADHD, and Autism assessments along with the Rorschach. While the Rorschach fell out of favor approximately 20 years ago due to some false information related to its efficacy, I find it to be a critical addition to my assessment battery that helps the clinical picture come to life and aids me in understanding how individuals cope with ambiguity. Collectively, my role as an assessor is to help the client find clarity and hope for the future.”

Dr. Lopez is the Director of Clinical Training and an Assistant Professor for both the Master of Arts in Applied Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology programs at SNU. Dr. Lopez is currently approved for postdoctoral training under Dr. Scott Secor and is set to complete the requirements to become a licensed health service psychologist in early 2025. Dr. Lopez obtained her Psy.D. at Oklahoma City University in Clinical Psychology and completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Arkansas Counseling and Psychological Services where her training focused on psychological assessment of adults.

Dr. Lopez began as a professor in SNU's graduate program in 2023. She currently teaches Theories and Techniques of Counseling II, Philosophy of Interpersonal Relationships, Legal and Ethical Issues, Psychopathology, Practicum I, and Internship I. Prior to her time at Southern Nazarene University, she taught as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Dr. Lopez oversees practicum and internship at Renew. She provides both individual and group supervision to both masters and doctoral level students. She also runs outreach for Renew where she assists with the promotion of mental health on the SNU campus and in the broader Bethany community. As she is a certified yoga instructor, her research focuses on yoga as an adjunct to traditional mental health treatments.

Clinically, Dr. Lopez conducts psychological and neurodevelopmental assessments with an emphasis on the assessment of autism in adults. During her doctoral training, Dr. Lopez spent multiple years at clinics specializing in the assessment of autism where she developed the skills necessary to diagnose and treat autism accurately and effectively.

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Dr. Lopez shared the following: 

"When it comes to mental health, it can be difficult to know where to begin! My goal is to help you answer questions such as "What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses and how can I improve on them? What diagnosis is appropriate for me? and where do I go from here?" My goal is to provide you the personalized care and in-depth analysis you deserve and are paying for. Mental health treatment shouldn't be scary! It is my belief that psychological assessments should be both informative and fun! I work to make this process an enjoyable experience as you dive into learning more about yourself! No matter your presenting concern, you will walk away from this process with better insights into yourself and increased knowledge of what treatment is right for you."

Alyssa is a third-year doctoral practicum student. She is currently pursuing her Psy.D. at Oklahoma City University. She is currently training under Dr. Scott Secor and Dr. Camryn Lopez at Renew Counseling Center, focusing on psychological assessment and therapeutic services. 

She has previously trained as a Behavioral Health Clinician for the Office of Juvenile Affairs and has experience with Applied Behavioral Analysis in clinical, home, and school settings. Her training has emphasized psychological assessment of adolescents in a forensic setting. She is currently participating in outreach for Renew where she assists with the promotion of mental health on the SNU campus and in the broader Bethany community. She is also participating in the athletics rotation, working with SNU sports teams to provide psychoeducation and team building activities.

Alyssa’s areas of research interest include juvenile justice, sports psychology, autism, and eating disorders. She is looking forward to using evidence-based practices to help others uncover and celebrate their strengths while addressing areas for growth. 

Alyssa shared the following:

“As I continue to broaden my education and refine my skills in psychological assessment, I am fueled by an excitement for learning and growth. Each new advancement in psychology offers fresh opportunities to deepen my understanding and enhance my clinical practice. This commitment to ongoing education is driven by a passion to become a more effective clinician, capable of making a meaningful impact across diverse age groups and exploring a wide range of individual strengths. I strive to help you leave the assessment experience with a deeper understanding of yourself and a clear sense of the next steps towards effective treatment.”